Automatic actuating means for box setting-up machines



Dec. 18, 1956 c. L. CLAFF ErAl. 2,774,285

AUTOMATIC ACTUATING MEANS FOR BOX SETTING-UP MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q EQ l/ 4 7izwfli'i7w *91 CLARENCE LLOYD CLAFF 0 77 lflf BY CARL- A. MOELLER L Q wzdz 7;? 2/ i j! W v Q r ATIQRNEYS Dec. 18, 1956 c. 1.. CLAFF mm, 2,774,285

AUTOMATIC ACTUATING MEANS FOR BOX SETTING-UP MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLARENCE LLOYD CLAFF CARL A. MOELLER 7 Y cum Witt HVATTORNEYS United States AUTOMATIC ACTUATING MEANS FOR BOX SETTING-UP MACHINES Original application February 26, 1947, Serial No. 731,664, new Patent No. 2,658,433. Divided and this application November 26, 1952, Serial No. 322,752

6 Claims. (Cl. 933-363) The present invention relates to machines for forming or setting up boxes from flat blanks of cardboard or the like, and more particularly to that class or type of setting-up machine commonly referred to as semi-automatic, in which the blank is fed by the operator to at least a portion of the machine instrumentalities for gluing, folding, and pressing the blank, and in which the blank is manipulated by the operator to effect one or more of the bending or folding operations.

In these semi-automatic machines it is customary to apply pressure by means of power driven mechanism, under the control of the operator, the pressure members being relatively actuated to cause a single pressing operation and then automatically to come to rest. This is commonly accomplished by means of a one-revolution clutch arranged to be tripped by the operator by pressure upon a foot treadle.

Since an experienced operator will set up five thousand or more boxes in an eight'hour day, and each box requires two pressing operations, once for each end, the operator in regular operation of themachine is called upon to depress the treadle every few seconds. As a consequence, the bodily weight of the operator is borne throughout the day lar ely by only one leg. As a result, operators of such machines sulfer extreme fatigue in this leg, and in time develop troubles which compel them to abandon the operation of these machines.

it is the object of the present invention to eliminate the use in these machines of a treadle with the above disadvantages, by providing for the actuation of the onerevolution clutch through control mechanism positioned of the operator such as the manner in which the box is held or the thinness or. plumpness of the hand or arm of the operator when the mechanism is actuated by the operator, but also to permit with both operator and carton actuation, a varying advance or retardation of the time of operation of the mechanism with respect to the final positioning of the folded blankbetween the. pressing members. A skillfull and rapid operator requires less time to position the carton between the pressingmembers after the control mechanism is actuated, than does the less experienced and slower operator. 'Ther'efore' this mechanism will be positioned so as to vbe'actuatediby the speedy operator while the carton is at a further distance from the pressing members than with the slower operator, and the output of the faster operator will be correspondingly increased. a V p With these objects in view, the present invention colif atent sists of a setting-up machine having controlling mechanism adapted to be engaged by the hand or arm of the operator or by the carton itself to cause the actuation of the pressure members, which mechanisms may be adjustably positioned to suit the requirements of the operator.

In the accompanying drawings which show the present invention as embodied in a machine for setting up flat blanks to form shoe cartons,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of'the top of the machine with the right hand corner broken away; and s Fig. 2 is a front elevation, on an enlargedscale, showing a portion of the head of the press with the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a similar vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 2, showing two positions of the hand of the operator with respect to the control mechanism, one in broken line when the folded end of the blank or box is being presented to the lower or movable platen, and the other in full line when the box is in its final or pressing position on the platen;

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the wiring of the switches and solenoid of the control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on lines 7--7 of Fig. l;

Figs. 8,9 and 10 show a modified form of the switch actuating mechanism wherein the switch is actuated by the movement of the partially completed carton into the press, Fig. 8 being a frontelevation of such mechanism, Fig. 9 a vertical section on lines 9-9 of Fig. 8, and

-Fig. 10 a horizontal section on lines 231l3 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 shows in reduced scale a standard form of shoe box blank suitable for use in connection with the present machine.

The machine of the drawings comprises briefly an upwardly extending and slightly rearwardly inclined guide or plate against which the end of the box, in its initial stages of formation, is pressed and along which it is guided by the operator in substantially horizontal position with the bottom uppermosnthe end wing extending substantially horizontally over the top edge of the plate, the side wings turned downwardly, and the side wing extensions or corner tabs turned inwardly and contacting the front face of the plate; a gluing-mechanism comprising a bottom gluing roll and a top pressure roll between which the end wing with its extension are passed to apply glue to the bottom surfaces thereof;'a fixed bending plow for turning the end wing and its extension downwardly from the horizontal to inclined'position with respect to the bottom of the box blank as the blank is moved past the plow by the operator; a pressing mechanism comprising fixed and vertically movable pressing members or platens, the movable member having on its front face a wiper plate for bending the end wing into contact with. the inturned side wing extensions, and folding the end wing extension over the edges of such extensionsasthe operator wipes the end of the box upwardly with a turnv ing movement to bring the end of the box uppermost in position to be entered between the pressing members; and a switch mounted on one of the platens and located in an electrical circuit controlling a one-revolution clutch which actuates the movableplaten, and with a switch actuating lever with contact member in position to be engaged by the hand ,or wrist of the operator or by the V blank as the latter is presented for positioningbn themovable platen.

The machine of the-drawings is of the general type 7 shown in United States Patent No. 710,930 to G. R. V

the box blank.

the one-revolution clutch. V a In the .machine' of the present application the one- Jarrangement in this type-of machine, as shown in said.

patent.

The operator forms the box carton from a flat blank of conventional shape with this type of machine, as shown in Fig. 11, first manually folding the side wings 25 of the V blank downwardly and the side Wing extensions 27 inwardly toclose one end of the box. -The closedend is then pressed against the guide or plate 11, with the end wing2 9 and its extensions 31 extending horizontally over the top of the guide in line with V The operator then moves the partially folded blank to the left along the guide or plate to cause the end wing 1 29 and its extension 31 to pass over. the gluing roll 13 and 'beneath'the pressure roll 15, these rolls being continuously rotated by power and applying glue to the bottom faces of the wing and its extension.

. From the gluing mechanism the operator advances the blank along the guide or plate to the plow or bender 17 which, as the blank is moved to the left, bends the end wing and extension downwardly from the'plane of the body or bottom 33 ofthe blank toward the inturned side wing'extensions. The blank'is .next presented Figs. 1 and 7, fixed upon the movable platen, the operator first pressing the end wing against thelower or rearwardly bent portion 37 f the wiper plate to bring the end extension into contact with the inturne'd side 'wing.

stationary platen;19 and having the cover plate 58 The switch is actuated through leaf spring 59 fixed uponthe actuating lever 60, pivoted on the stud 61 fixed in bracket 57, and is normally drawn downwardly by tension spring 65 is positioned to contact with the horizontal short arm the bottom portion of H to the wiper plate 35, see

extensions, and then wiping the end of the box upwardly in contact with the plate While turning the blank from f a nearly horizontal to a substantially vertical position, by this action folding the end wing extension'downward ly and parallel to the bottom of the box. 7 V a I As the box is' raised, 'and its end comes opposite the opening between the stationary and the movable platens, the operator pushes the blank inwardly over'the movable'plate'n, thereby completing the folding of the end wing extension inwardly into position to be pressed against the inner margin of the inturned wing extensions when the movable platen 21,;rises and following the tripping of revolution clutch, instead of being tripped by the opera tor bynieans of a foot treadle with the attendant disadvantages hereinbefore setforth, is electrically released 71 of the bell-crank lever 73 pivoted at 75 to the lug 76 depending from bracket. 57. The long depending arm 77' of lever 73 carries the contact plate 79 with the curved or bent front and rear portions 81 and 83 to be engaged bythe hand 8570i forearm of the operator, as shown in Fig. 5,. r

The angle iron bracket 57 upon whichthe switch 19,

the'lever 60, and the bell-crank lever 73 are all mounted,

is provided with the horizontal slots 89 adjacent the ends of the bracket, and through theseslots pass'clamping screws 91 for adjustably'securingithe angle iron bracket and its attached mechanism to the stationary platen 19.

Downward movement of the'short arm 71 of the bellcrank lever 73 is limited by the stop screw 93 mounted in depending support-95securcd to the bottom of the angle iron bracket 57 byscrews 97.'

By first looseningrthe clamping screws 91, the switch and lever unit may be adjusted to the right or to'the left to bring the contact plate 79 nearer. to or further from thepath of movement of the operators hand or arms as of the hand or forearm extend considerably to the left,

or if the hand or forearmis plump, the unit may be adjusted to the left. If, on the'other'hand, the operator holds the hand close to the box or the hand and fore ".throughfihe -mechanism diagrammaticallyillustrated in- Fig; 6, and comprising the electric solenoid 41 with mova- .ble core 42 and clutch tripping lever 43. The solenoid 'is connected to -a sourceof electric energy. 44 through f wires 45, 46 and mainswitch;47. The wire 46 is 'provided with two normally open, make-and-break switches 49mm 51 of the type commonlyknown as microswitches,

the former being closed by the operator to set the pressure inechanismin operation, and the latter being closed byfa cam ,53 on the shaftof' the 'pressure'mechanism through cam lever 55. The cam 53;is so timed that the 1 "f'switch 51 willi betopened immediately after thetripping of theone-revolution clutch 23; and will notagain be closed untiljustbefore the clutch is thrown outjand the 7 mechanisrn comes to rest. g

B a-eke: V

arm are thin, the unit may be adjusted to the-right.v

tween the pressure members, and the switch 'unit may therefore be adjusted to the right sothat the switch will be actuated and the tripping of the'clutch initiatedwhen thelcarton is. still a substantial distance awayffrorn its final position between the pressure members. On the other hand, if. the operator is less experienced and slower,

reducing'the duration of the idle portion of its cycleof operation, thereby-increasing the output-of the machine in accordance with the skill and speed of the operator.

Not only may the time of actuation of the switch .be varied by adjusting the switch and lever unit laterally on ,"the stationary platen,.but provision is made for positioning the contact plate 79 further forward toward the operator, or backward toward the machine, eithertovary' the time of actuation of the switch or to bringthe, Plate to the position to coritactthe desired portion of; the

-op'erators hand or arm.

' This adjustability'is secured by providing theback face 7 of the contact platewith bearing blocks 99, fixedly se cured thereto and transversely borcd' tofre'ceive the short ver 7 rod 101 whichalsopasses throughjthe long arm and held place by the set screw 103,.

In Fig.5fa'ie shown two positions of the plate and 7 Again, if the operator is skillful and fast, less timewill be required for positioning thefolded end of'the box he arm of the operator and the carton is in final position upon the movable platen. The contact plate 79 in this figure is so adjusted that the switch would not be actuated until the folded end of the box was only a very short distance from the final position, say an inch and a half from such position. This would be about the setting of the switch for a moderate speed operator.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 there is shown a modification of the switch mechanism wherein the switch is positioned to be actuated by the carton itself as it is being presented to the movable platen. An adjustablemounting for the switch and contact member provides for the actuation of the switch earlier or later as the carton is advanced to its final position on the movable platen.

In this modified construction the switch unit is mounted, not upon the stationary platen, but upon the movable platen on the back face of the wiper plate 451 as shown in Fig. 9. The unit comprises the switch proper 491, supported upon a horizontal bracket 492, extending rearwardly from the plate 494.

Pivoted at 496 on the plate is the actuating arm or lever 591, with spring contact 571 for actuating the switch. A contact button 572 is fixed upon the free end of the lever 591 and projects through the vertical slot 574 in the wiper plate 451. Olfset guides or brackets 576, one with a clamping screw 578, permit vertical adjustment of the 4 switch unit to bring the contact button 572 lower or higher in the guide so that the folded edge of the end wall f the blank will contact and actuate the button sooner or later in the upward movement of the box or carton along the wiper plate, thus advancing or delaying the tripping of the one-revolution clutch. Fig. 9 shows the switch unit in broken lines at a lower position with the tripping ofpthe clutch advanced, and in full lines at a higher position with the tripping delayed.

The operation of the setting-up machine herein shown and described,is as follows: The press having been pro vided with a movable platen of the proper size for the blank or carton to beset up, and the switch unit for the one-revolution clutch having been adjusted to suit the convenience and speed of the operator, the machine is set in operation, causing the gluing and pressure rolls 13 and 15 and the driving member of the one-revolution clutch to operate continuously while the pressure mechanism stands at rest.

The operator takes a flat blank from an adjacent supply, and holding it substantially horizontal with bottom side up, bends down the side wings 26 with her hands and turns the side wing extensions or the corner tabs 27 inwardly with her fingers, leaving the end wing 29 and its extension 31 extending horizontally in the line of the bottom 33.

The partially folded blank is then pressed against the wall or guide 11 to hold the corner tabs in their folded position while the end wing 29 and extension 31 extend horizontally over the top of the plate or guide 11.

The operator now moves the folded blank toward the left along the front face and top edge of guide 11 to bring the end wing 29 and extension 31 into the bite of the gluing and pressure rolls, thereby applying glue to the bottom faces of the end wing 29 and extension 31, as the blank is propelled by the rolls.

plate 11, the glued blank is carried to the left by the operator into engagement with the fixed curved bender or plow 17 which, in the continued movement of the blank, turns the end wing and extension downwardly from a horizontal toward a vertical position, the blank 7 during the final stages of such operation passing beyond the end of the guide 11 and being left free and unre other, power means for causing such movement, a wiper the glued end wing into contact with the inturned side wing extensions. The end of the blank or carton is then raised while maintaining contact with the wiping apron to turn the end wing extension 31 over the edge of the end wing.

The raising of the folded end of the box and the turning and wiping action are continued until the end of the box reaches the bottom of the angle iron support 57, when the box bottom will be vertical, the end wing horizontal, and the end Wing extension vertical and parallel with the box bottom.

The folded blank is then pushed inwardly between the two pressure members, the end wing extension 31 being turned inwardly under the inturned corner tabs or side wing extensions 27 to complete the folding of the blank into final end formation as shown in Fig. 4, the top face of the movable platen being recessed, as at 105, to receive such end extension. I

During this movement of the carton into the press, the switch control mechanism is contacted either by the arm or hand of the operator, or by the box itself, if the modification of Figures 8, 9 and 10 is employed, releasing the one-revolution clutch and setting the lower platen in motion just as the blank reaches its final position between the platens.

As the lower platen 21 rises, it momentarily clamps the folded and glued parts together against the stationary platen 19 under heavy pressure, and then quickly releases them, returns to its lowermost position, and comes to rest.

The operator removes the carton from the pressing members, and turning the box in her hands performs the same series of operations upon the other end of the box to complete the carton.

The setting up machine herein shown and described is simple, compact, convenient for, and easy of operation by the operator, with a capacity of production determined by the skill and dexterity of the operator.

While in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing specification the present invention is shown and described as embodied in a certain mechanism, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific constructions and arrangements, but may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the language of theappended claims.

Where in the claims reference is made to the arm of the operator, this is to be understood as meaning and covering either the forearm, or wrist, or hand of the operator.

The present application is a division of our copending application Serial Number 731,064, filed February 26, 1947, now Patent No. 2,658,433.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a box setting-up machine, the combination with blank gluing and folding mechanism, of a pair of pres-.

sure members movable relatively toward and from one another, power means for causing such movement, devices for rendering said power means operative, a contact member positioned to be engaged by the blank to actuate said devices ,while the blank is being held and advanced to the pressure members, a wiper plate upon one of the pressure members having a slot extending in the direction of the path of advance "of the blank through which slot the contact member extends, and means for adjustably mounting the contact member upon the rear face of the Wiper plate to permit the contact member to be positioned nearer to or further from the pressure members to vary the time of rendering the '7 power means operative with respect to the movement of the blank.

2. In a box setting-up machine, the combination with blank gluing and folding mechanism, of a pair of pressure members movable relatively to and from one anplate mounted upon one of the members and provided with a slot therethrough, devices including a contact having provision for adjustment toward and from said pressure'members.

3. A box setting-up machine, having, in combination,

' a pair of pressure members relatively movable toward and from one another, means for causing such movement, said means including a continuously rotating power shaft and a one-revolution clutch, a wiper plate attached to the lower member and provided with a slot therethrough extending in the line of feed .of the blank,

control devices for actuating the tripping mechanism' comprising a control member sliding mounted upon the wiper plate and carrying a contact jbutton extending through the slot in the wiper plate in position to beengaged by the advancing-edge of the box blank when the 'latteris being presented by the operator to the pressure member, the control member and button being adjustably secured to the wiper plate to provide for adjustment of the contact button along the slot thereby to vary the time ot-- operation of the tripping mechanism with respect to the presentation of the blank;

4.'In a box'setting-up machine, the combination with blank gluing and folding mechanism, of a pair of pressure members movable relatively to and from one another, power means for causing such movement, a wiper plate mounted upon one of the members and provided with a slot therethrough, devices including a contact smember for'rendering said power means operative, said contact member being positioned to extend through said slot and into the path of *movement of the bIank'trOm the-gluing and folding mechanismto final position between; the pressure members; V v

a 5. In a box setting-up machine, the combination with blank gluing and folding mechanism, of a pair of pressure members movable relatively to and from one .an-

other, power means for causing such movement, a wiper plate mounted upon one of the members and provided with an aperture thereth ro ugh, devices including a contact member forrendering said power means operative, a switch in control of the power means, and actuating means for said switch extending through the aperture :in the wiper plate and into the path of advance of the blank'to position between the pressure members.

' 6. In a box setting-up machine, the combination with blankgluing and folding mechanism, of a pair of'pressure'members movable relatively to and from one an other, power meansfor causing such movement, a wiper plate mounted uponone of the members and provided with an aperture tlierethrough, devices including a contact member for rendering said power means operative, a

switch in control of the power means, said switch being disposed rearwardly of j the wiper plate,fan1 aperture in said plate, a switch actuator in operative relation to the switch and projecting through the aperture'in the .wiper plate forwardly of the vface of said platerfor engagement with a part of the box blank'during a portion of the box 7 forming operation;

References, Cited in thefile of this patent- V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,877 Evers Dec. 6, 1927 r 1,798,583 Bishop Mar.i31, 1931' 2,186,977 Knowlton Jan. 16, 1940 2,370,686 Roper Mai. 6, I 1945 2,407,020 r v 1 Sept; 3,1946 2,561,485 Sillars' July 24, 1951 j 

